THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS NEW MEXICO WILD The Wilderness Society, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and New Mexico Wild are urging the Bureau of Land Management to take a far more rigorous look at its proposed New Mexico 2026 Third Quarter oil and gas lease sale. Their comments argue
Conservation Groups Protest Montana-Dakotas Q2 2026 Federal Oil and Gas Lease Sale
A coalition of environmental and park-protection organizations is urging the Bureau of Land Management to defer all 23 parcels in the proposed Montana-Dakotas Q2 2026 oil and gas lease sale until the agency completes a far more comprehensive environmental review. The Western Environmental Law Center, joined by the Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition to Protect
Member Op-Ed: BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why.
BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why | Opinion OP ED | Opinion This piece expresses the views of its author(s), separate from those of this publication. BLM nominee Steve Pearce’s record shows he would not protect Arizona’s national parks and monuments. He would do the opposite, putting them at risk. Steve Martin
Member Op-Ed: Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands
Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands (Opinion) By Daily Camera guest opinion | Boulder Daily Camera PUBLISHED: March 19, 2026 By Elaine F. Leslie The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) exists to sustain and safeguard our nation’s public lands in the present and for future generations. And yet,
Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan
Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan The National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks have submitted comments opposing EPA’s proposed approval of Oklahoma’s 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. The groups argue that the plan fails to require meaningful new pollution controls, even though
Conservation Groups Urge Camden County to Delay Support for Cumberland Island Land Exchange
March 17, 2026 Via Email and Online Public Comment Portal Re: Cumberland Island – Letter of Support for NPS Land Exchange Dear County Commissioners: On behalf of itself, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, National Parks Conservation Association, and Wild Cumberland, Southern Environmental
125 Groups to Congress: Reject CRA Resolutions That Threaten Grand Staircase–Escalante
The Honorable John Thune Senate Majority Leader The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker of the House The Honorable Chuck Schumer Senate Minority Leader The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries House Minority Leader RE: Please Oppose Attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument through the use of the Congressional Review Act (S.J.Res.109/H.J.Res.151) Dear Senators and Members of Congress, On behalf
National Conservation Organizations Urge Mariposa County to Reject Development Near Yosemite
March 5, 2026 Mariposa County Planning Department PO Box 2039 Mariposa, CA 95338 Submitted via email to pl**********@************ty.gov Dear Mariposa County Planning Department, On behalf of National Parks Conservation Association, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and National Wildlife Federation, we submit the following comments regarding Camp Yosemite LLC’s Formal Housing Development Project Application
Former National Park Service Scientist Urges Maryland to Phase Out Lead Ammunition to Protect Wildlife and Public Health
Testimony MD SB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition February 27, 2026 Delegate Marc Korman, Chairman House Environment & Transportation Committee 250 Taylor Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Re: HB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition – FAVORABLE Dear Chairman Korman and Vice Chair Guyton: I am Dr. F. Elaine Leslie, an
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands Yesterday, Utah Republicans furthered their efforts to upend the plan that protects Grand Staircase-Escalante’ National Monument. The previous addition to the congressional record of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion stating that Congress can overturn Monument Management Plans opened the door to this action.
Member Op-Ed: Don’t desecrate Big Bend National Park with a border wall we don’t need
As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name
Conservation Groups Protest BLM Utah Oil & Gas Lease Sale Over Threats to Old Spanish Trail
Synopsis: Protest of BLM Utah 2026 First Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment On February 24, 2026, a coalition of conservation organizations and trail advocates submitted a formal protest of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Utah 2026 First Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0001-EA).
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks Visitors should brace for longer lines and gridlock now that several major parks are rolling back their reservation systems. Here are strategies for a more relaxed summer vacation. By Andrea Sachs When Will Pattiz learned that Yosemite was eliminating its timed-entry system, he experienced a flashback
Member Op-Ed: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid
Letters: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid By Don Neubacher Feb 27, 2026 Regarding “Exclusive: How Yosemite superintendent plans to manage crowds without reservation system” (Outdoors, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 21): New Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden justified the decision end the day-use reservation system, claiming that traffic congestion affects the
Coalition Urges Public Review and Historic Preservation Safeguards for Proposed White House Ballroom Expansion
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 27, 2026 National Capital Planning Commission Subject: White House Modernization Project The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of
Timed entry is out at Arches. Locals and conservationists wonder what’s next
For the first time in four years, Arches National Park won’t require visitors to have a timed-entry reservation. The pilot program began in 2022 in response to overcrowding at the southeast Utah park. Arches’ annual visitation jumped by 73.6% in the previous decade to peak at just over 1.8 million people. A National Park Service
Former National Park Leaders Sound the Alarm on Steve Pearce’s Nomination to Lead Bureau of Land Management
Release Date: February 24, 2026 Media Contact: Emily Thompson Former National Park Leaders Sound the Alarm on Steve Pearce’s Nomination to Lead Bureau of Land Management Washington, DC — Ahead of tomorrow’s hearing on the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, former National Park Service leaders are urging
Conservation Groups Submit Comments on Cumberland Island Visitor Plan
Comments Submitted on Cumberland Island Visitor Use Plan The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of 15 conservation organizations, has submitted formal comments on the National Park Service’s proposed Visitor Use Management Plan (VUMP) for Cumberland Island National Seashore. While supporting the Park Service’s goal of providing thoughtful public access, the coalition raises serious
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future Today, on Wednesday, February 18, the Trump Administration announced that it would roll back reservation systems at Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks. These reservation systems have helped to manage visitation during peak seasons, as national park visitation continues to grow every year, hitting a record high
Coalition Urges Careful Review of White House Modernization Plans to Protect Historic Integrity
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 18, 2026 U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Subject: White House Modernization Project(s) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 45,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s
Coalition Files Lawsuit to Challenge Censorship, Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks
Groups Unite to Protect “America’s Largest Classroom” From Unlawful Removal of History and Science from Park Displays BOSTON – A coalition of organizations committed to protecting America’s national parks, preserving and sharing history, promoting scientific literacy and access, and providing high-quality interpretive materials united today to challenge a new U.S. Department of the Interior policy that
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks Yesterday, President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Scott Socha, a hotel and food management executive, as the next director of the National Park Service. In response, Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement: “Over the last year, the National Park
Urge BLM to Defer August 2026 Oil & Gas Leasing Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail
On February 12, 2026, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Badlands Conservation Alliance filed scoping comments urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer key oil and gas lease parcels proposed for the Montana–Dakotas Q3 (August) 2026 lease sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA). The groups recommend that BLM designate
One Year After the Valentine’s Day Firings, America’s National Parks Remain in Crisis
MEMO To: Interested Parties Fr: Emily Thompson, Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Re: One year after the Valentine’s Day firings, what we’re seeing at National Parks Dt: February 2026 __________________________________________________________ One year after the Valentine’s Day firings that gutted the National Park Service, our national parks remain on a perilous path and in a
Oppose S. 446: Don’t Strip Big Cypress National Preserve of Its Chance for Wilderness Protection
Oppose S. 446 – A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness February 3, 2026 Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our millions of members and supporters, we urge you to oppose S.